Alabama State University, founded 1867, is a historically black university located in Montgomery, Alabama. ASU is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Alabama State University is a regional comprehensive, historically black, state-supported University. In carrying out its mission, the University serves the city of Montgomery, the state, the nation and the global community. Its major commitments are quality programs of undergraduate and graduate instruction, residential life, continuing education, public service, and research provided at the most reasonable cost to individual students and taxpayers. The University will continue to strengthen its academic programs in education, business and the liberal arts while giving even greater emphasis to the science programs at the graduate and undergraduate levels. The science emphasis is in recognition of the gross under representation of minority professionals in this broad and important field throughout the nation

Alabama State University founded in 1867 as the Lincoln Normal School of Marion in Marion. In December 1873, the State Board accepted the transfer of title to the school after a legislative act was passed authorizing the state to fund a Normal School, and George N. Card was named President. Thus, in 1874, this predecessor of Alabama State University became America's first state-supported educational institution for blacks. This began ASUï¿½s history as a ï¿½Teacherï¿½s College.ï¿½ In 1878, the second president, William Paterson, was appointed. He is honored as a founder of Alabama State University and was the president for 37 of the first 48 years of its existence. Paterson was instrumental in the move from Marion to Montgomery in 1887. In 1887, the university opened in its new location in Montgomery, but an Alabama State Supreme Court ruling forced the school to change its name; thus, the school was renamed the Normal School for Colored Students. In the decades that followed Lincoln Normal School became a junior college and in 1928 became a full four-year institution. In 1929 it became State Teachers College, Alabama State College for Negroes in 1948 and Alabama State College in 1954. In 1969, the State Board of Education, then the governing body of the university, approved a name change; the institution became Alabama State University. The 1995 Knight vs. Alabama remedial decree transformed ASU into a comprehensive regional institution paving the way for two new undergraduate programs, four new graduate programs, diversity scholarship funding and endowment, funding to build a state-of-the art health sciences facility and a facility renewal allocation to refurbish three existing buildings. WVAS-FM was launched on June 15, 1984, beaming 25,000 watts of power from the fifth floor of the Levi Watkins Learning Center for two years before moving to its current location at Thomas Kilby Hall. Today, WVAS has grown to 80,000 watts and enjoys a listenership that spans 18 counties, reaching a total population of more than 651,000. In recent years, the station has also begun streaming its broadcast via the Web, connecting a global audience to the university. The early 1990s witnessed the beginning of WAPR-FM (Alabama Public Radio), which Alabama State University and Troy University, both of which already held station licenses of their own, cooperated with the University of Alabama in building and operating. WAPR-FM 88.3ï¿½Selma ï¿½ The signal reaches the region known colloquially as the Black Belt, about 13 counties in the west central and central parts of Alabama, including the city of Montgomery. The university experienced some tension with the state government in 2013. In December 2012, university president Joseph Silver resigned after only six months in the job. In October 2013, the state governor asked the university to halt its ongoing presidential search to address an audit that alleged that "ASU attempted to thwart and hamper the audit," several trustees received improper benefits, and significant financial mismanagement. The audit was ordered to investigate Silver's claims that he was forced to resign because he questioned "suspicious contracts" at the university.

Urban, 172-acres

Joe L. Reed civil rights pioneer W.C. Patton civil rights leader who served as state president of the Alabama NAACP from 1947 to 1955, and was later the national director of voter education of the NAACP Ralph David Abernathy civil rights leader and minister Fred Gray attorney who represented Rosa Parks during the Montgomery Bus Boycott Dr. Fred Shuttlesworth civil rights leader and minister, co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Council Fred Wesley An American jazz and funk trombonist, best known for his work with James Brown in the 1960s and 1970s. Eugene Sawyer Politician and businessman,former Mayor of Chicago from 1987ï¿½1989 China Jude 1994 First Black Female Athletic Director, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (2007-11) and Queens College 2011-Present Dr. Yvonne Kennedy Former President of Bishop State Community College J. Bernard Calloway 1997 actor who has appeared in Broadway productions as well making appearances on TV and film Clarence Carter 1960 American soul singer and musician. Best known for his hits "Strokin'", "Patches", "Snatching It Back" Rickey Smiley comedian/actor Dionne Walters contestant on America's Next Top Model Jesse White 37th Secretary of State of Illinois Doug Williams 1995 Comedian/Actor Brad Baxter former American football running back who played 7 seasons in the NFL for the New York Jets(1989ï¿½1995 Eddie Robinson former American football linebacker who played 11 seasons in the NFL for the Houston Oilers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, and the Buffalo Bills. He started for the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. Erskine Hawkins noted jazz musician, composer of "Tuxedo Junction" Felix Stallings, Jr. Electronica Artist/Producer/DJ Felix da housecat James Daniel 1974 Tight Ends Coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers Jessie Tompkins 1998 a former nationally ranking American athlete in Track and Field and head coach for the East Montgomery Track Club, Tompkins was the first African America student to challenge the State of Alabamaï¿½s White-Only Race based scholarships. His story was featured in the Wall Street Journal and Aired on 60 Minutes with Morley Safer (vice versa). Double Reverse Scholarship program for whites becomes a test of preferences By June Kronholtz,The Wall Street Journal, December 23, 1997, Kefla Hare 2000 Actor, educator, motivational speaker; MTV Road Rules Down Under (season 6 cast member), Hip Hop Harry (Emmy nominated children series on TLC and Discovery Kids Lewis Jackson 1984 former NBA player, educator, ASU basketball coach London "Deelishis" Charles Winner of reality show Flavor of Love 2 Marcus Winn Linebacker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League Quinton Ross member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 26th District Ralph Simpson first African American to earn a PhD (music) from Michigan State University; former Dean of the School of Music at Tennessee State University Manny Martin former NFL defensive back for the Buffalo Bills during the 1990s Terren Jones 2012 current NFL offensive lineman Michael Coe 2007 current NFL defensive back Reggie Barlow 1996 former professional football wide receiver and current head football coach at Alabama State University Steven Daniel 1993 actor/comedian Steven Daniel Tangi Miller 1993 actress with The WB's Felicity Tarvaris Jackson 2006 Professional football player. Quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks Tauheed Epps Rapper known as 2 Chainz Woody McCorvey 1972 Assistant Head Football Coach for The Mississippi State University Bulldogs